FY25_Two_Calf_Units_A_D_S_O_W.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

North Central Montana District

UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT

2024 CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY OF FUELS PROJECT

Two Calf Fuels Treatment Unit A&D

STATEMENT OF WORK

I. Introduction and Background:

The Bureau of Land Management’s Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is proposing a Class II inventory of the Two Calf fuels treatment projects in Petroleum county, MT in advance of a prescribed fuels treatment project (Table 1). Maps of the project locations are attached.

The BLM is required to identify, evaluate, and protect pre-contact and historic cultural resources on public lands under its jurisdiction, and to ensure that BLM initiated, or BLM authorized actions do not inadvertently harm or destroy historic properties. These requirements are mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and related regulations found at 36

CFR 800.

II. Project Location and Description:

The project location is near Two Calf Creek in Petroleum County, MT. The project area can be accessed via public road. The project includes two planned prescribed burn units for the Upper

Missouri River Breaks National Monument (UMRBNM). Additional maps and details can be provided to the successful offeror. Privately owned lands are involved as part of the Two Calf contract, and the private landowners involved have granted permission to conduct cultural resource inventory for the purposes of this prescribed burn project. The deliverable for this contract needs to be completed by January 15th, 2026.

Table 1. Project Locations

Project Unit

County Township Range Section Unit Acreage

Two Calf

Unit A Petroleum

T21N

T22N

R22E

R22E

3,4,5,8,9,10 31,32,33,34

BLM: 1,765 acres Private: 445 acres

Total: 2,210

Project Unit County Township Range Section Unit Acerage

Two Calf Unit D

Petroleum T22N R22E 19,20,21,22,23,26,27, 28,29,30,31,32,33,34

BLM: 4,375

Private: 56 Total: 4,431

PROJECT APE

TOTAL 6,641 acres

III. Specific Background:

For the purposes of this project, a Class II probabilistic field inventory will be completed. In general, a Class II survey is accomplished through systematic inspection of defined parcels within the larger area of potential effects (APE) carried out by walking a series of close-interval parallel transects until the identified areas have been thoroughly examined. Within sample units, survey aims, methods, and intensity are the same as those applied in a Class III inventory. BLM has consulted with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office to define 4,274 acres within the project APE to be completed for survey. In addition, the following parameters were defined for the purposes of this project. All areas under 10% slope in the sample units will be intensively surveyed at the Class III level. Areas greater than 10% slope, but less than 25% slope, will be inventoried utilizing meandering transects not spaced greater than 60 meters. Areas that lie within the 10%-25% slope range that are identified in the field as having high site potential (i.e.

open meadows, terraces, saddles ect.) will be inventoried at the Class III level and documented in the final report.

Paleontological localities, if identified, should be noted in the report; however, complete documentation of paleontological sites is not part of this contract. The main objectives of the survey are to discover all cultural resources in a project area, evaluate the cultural resources for

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility, and provide recommendations for determinations of effect and management specific to the planned prescribed burning project.

IV. Objectives.

General Bureau Objective.

The overall Bureau objective is to meet the requirements of Section 106 of the National

Historic Preservation Act by identifying, documenting, and evaluating historic properties that have the potential to be affected by the proposed project. That effects determination needs to be tied to the sites’ significance and integrity. These requirements will be met in accordance with the requirements as outlined in the BLM-Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota Handbook H-

8110-1 Guidelines for Identifying Cultural Resources and Montana State Historic Preservation

Office (SHPO) guidance.

Specific Study Objectives.

To identify and evaluate, based primarily on surface indications, all cultural resources located on lands identified for survey within the project area. In general, site evaluations should be conducted using existing guidance from the Montana SHPO, the National Register Criteria (36

CFR 60.4), and the National Park Service National Register Bulletins.

V. Statement of Work:

A. The Contractor shall conduct a site file and literature search with the Montana SHPO to obtain site forms and shapefiles at a minimum, to complete project tasks. The purpose of this file search is to ensure that the Contractor is familiar with all previous work conducted in the general area of the project. This information will be a necessary component of the inventory report. The BLM will provide the contractor with shapefiles of the project area and the identified inventory units.

B. The Contractor shall perform an on-the-ground search for all cultural resources located in the project units identified for survey. The Contractor shall serve as the Principal Investigator and Field Director of an inventory crew charged with identifying and evaluating cultural resources located in the project area; and with writing an inventory report upon completion of field work. The bid proposal shall clearly outline the fieldwork methods and personnel to be used in the survey.

C. Formal testing or collection will not be conducted. If limited testing is needed to determine site eligibility, the contractor will first contact the BLM archaeologist for review. If historic period architectural structures or remains are located the contractor is expected to conduct a land title examination as part of the site identification and evaluation effort.

D. The Contractor shall employ the Montana SHPO criteria for minimum site definition, i.e., an archaeological or historical site consists of any feature alone or in association with other features (cairns, stone rings) or five or more artifacts situated in a discrete location within 50 meters of each other and/or artifacts or features located more than 100 meters from each other but in obvious association. Sites may also include locations which contain no physical evidence but are important for their associations with the traditions of a group, ethnic community, or Indian tribe; e.g., National Register Bulletin 38. Linear cultural resources (ie.

historic roads, ditches, rock alignments) shall be recorded in their entirety (albeit only field checked for the portion of the linear site within project boundaries). Isolated features, such as historic mining prospect pits or claim markers, shall be recorded as a site. Isolated finds are classified as any cultural artifact that is not a site. Reference the Montana SHPO for further guidance.

VI. The Contractor shall:

1. Cover the area to be inventoried on foot by employing standard survey methodology.

Systematic linear transect intervals will be spaced 30 meters or less in all areas less than

10% slope. Areas greater than 10% and less than 25% slope will be surveyed and spaced no more than 60m. Areas that lie within 10%-25% slope that are identified in the field as having high site potential (i.e. open meadows, terraces, saddles ect.) will be inventoried at the Class III level and documented in the final report. Steep landforms, such as rock faces, talus/scree slopes, and cliffs, should be inspected for the possibility of cultural remains including but not limited to human burials, rock shelters/caves, hunting blinds, rock art, and historic mining features. If transects are widened from the parameters defined above, the contractor shall document the rationale employed which justifies deviation from the standard interval distance. Justification must be clearly made and thoroughly documented for any of the identified inventory areas not surveyed under this contract and will be reviewed by the Bureau of Land Management. This justification should be limited to health and safety concerns. In all cases, coverage must be thorough.

2. Identify from all surface and exposed indications all cultural properties or materials.

3. Locate each cultural resource on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5' quadrangle topographic map.

4. Record all cultural properties, including previously recorded sites, on Montana CRIS site or isolated find forms. Site forms shall be completed following the SHPO’s

CRIS Instructions. Employ BLM/SHPO recording standards for stone circles as specified in Recordation Standards and Evaluation Guidelines for Stone Circle

Sites, Planning Bulletin No. 22 (March 2002).

4. Take at least two photographs of each cultural resource and several of each survey unit. Photos shall not contain people, shadows or gear, except when used for scale. The subject of the photo should be clearly visible. Noticeable changes in geography dictate that at least one photo of each land type within the unit should be included. Standing historic buildings and structures shall be photographed on all sides to illustrate architectural features. Label all photos with a description, date/time, and orientation. A photographic record shall be maintained and included in the final submission.

5. Although scale maps of all sites shall be prepared and include topographic contour lines, cultural features, basic site contents, locations of all collected artifacts, and site boundaries, a physical site datum shall not be established. How site boundaries were determined shall be fully explained in the site record and report (ie. topography, distribution of site features/artifacts, and/or specific distance from site constituents). Use of digital aerial photographs zoomed in to show the site is not acceptable when the details of the maps are pixelated and no longer identifiable.

While it is not necessary to map all artifacts, indicate areas of artifact concentration and temporal diagnostics. Any items discussed in the site form shall be depicted on the site map, e.g. roads. All project site maps shall be consistent, e.g. if a datum is depicted on one map, it should be on all maps. When GPS technology is not available (i.e., no satellite coverage) all pre-contact cultural properties shall be mapped by compass and tape or paced in meters. All historic period Euro-

American standing structures and mining features; e.g., cabins, barns, adits, etc., shall be mapped in feet. Plot each individual features, diagnostic artifact and site boundary using a GPS unit or field computer with one-meter GPS accuracy. Note the type of GPS equipment and level of accuracy employed.

6. The Contractor shall obtain Smithsonian site numbers from the Montana SHPO for all cultural resources not previously assigned such numbers. The BLM will review all site forms for adequacy prior to the submission to the SHPO for site numbers. The BLM reserves the right to request site forms be submitted as many times as necessary to verify the appropriate changes have been completed before submission to the SHPO. The contractor is responsible for addressing SHPO comments on site forms.

VII. Methodologies.

The Contractor shall determine the methods and techniques necessary for completion of this study using the guidelines identified herein, discuss those methods and techniques in their bid proposal, and conduct the work according to the procedures so specified.

Survey methodology or proposed avoidance of certain areas needs to be addressed in the proposal and inventory report.

VIII. Specifications and Standards

i. Inventory guidelines and standards for BLM generated cultural resource investigations can be found in BLM's Guidelines for Identifying Cultural

Resources (H- 8110-1). The Handbook is available upon request.

Additional requirements for the recordation of tipi rings are described in the Handbook and SHPO guidance.

ii. Additional guidance can be found on the Montana State Historic

Preservation Office website: http://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/.

iii. The “Project Name” for site forms and report is the “Report Number” depicted on the Fieldwork Authorization.

IX. Analysis and Report Preparation.

Upon completion of the Class III Cultural Resource Inventory; prepare a professional quality report, addressing the general categories outlined below:

A. Title Sheet. Signed by the Principal Investigator.

B. Abstract. Provide a 250-word or less abstract of the report. The abstract must http://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/ outline the report contents and refer to specific highlights from the narrative.

C. Table of Contents. Provide a complete inventory of report contents.

D. Introduction. Provide an overview of the project including its purpose.

Identify the units inventoried for this project, by legal description in table form.

E. Literature Search. Provide a brief but complete discussion on the work that has been conducted in the project area.

F. Environmental and Cultural Setting. Provide a brief but complete overview of the environment in which the survey units are located. In addition, discuss the cultural setting, again briefly, including both the pre-contact and historic periods.

G. Inventory Results. Provide a summary description of each cultural resource recorded that is narrative in nature and illustrates the environmental and cultural constituents of the site (refrain from simply rehashing the site data in a list format). Include photographs of cultural properties located during the surveys.

Use other graphics and tables as appropriate. Note any issues connected with the property's recordation. If a site boundary extends outside of the project boundaries, the site will be recorded in its entirety if on public lands or if on private lands where landowner permission is obtained. If the site extends onto private property and landowner permission is not obtained, then other methods

(i.e. aerial photography) shall be used to document the site, if possible.

H. Indicate recommendations from evaluation of eligibility and determinations of effect (36 CFR 800.9). Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effect findings shall be identified in the inventory report and treated as recommendations to the BLM Lewistown Field Office.

I. Evaluate each historic property for its eligibility to the NRHP using guidance found in National Registers Bulletin 15. Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate historic properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria

(describing both significance and integrity) in those evaluations. The report should clearly identify the approach that is being taken to determine the significance of historic properties. This evaluation design should be reflective of the “Context” and cultural setting of the area. Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine which sites are eligible or not eligible. Contractor shall recommend treatment needed to better assess eligibility on unevaluated sites; recommending

“unevaluated” on site eligibility is not an acceptable default in lieu of a site eligibility recommendation.

J. To determine if a site possesses Criterion D values, it must be able to contribute to the theoretical and substantive knowledge of archaeology. A justification of eligibility under this value should clearly state which research issues can be addressed by investigation of the site, especially through reference to existing pre-contact and/or historic context documents; and it should outline the most pertinent methods of analysis, comparison, and synthesis of archaeological materials.

K. Summary and Recommendations. Discuss the results of the inventory in summary form. Include the following information in one table:

a. Identify the sites recorded, whether the sites are pre-contact or historic, and what type of site is represented.

b. Evaluate each cultural property for its eligibility to the National Register of Historic

Places (NRHP). Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate cultural properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria in those evaluations.

Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine site eligibility, determinations of effect and measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effect findings for each site.

L. References Cited. Include a list of all sources cited in report.

M. Maps and Graphics. Provide appropriate maps, charts, tabulations, and graphics necessary to support the report narrative. Maps, graphics, and photos in all copies of reports must show the same degree of detail as the electronic images.

X. Health and Safety Concerns

The Field Director shall ensure that all field work is done a safe manner. Areas considered by the Field Director to pose health or safety concerns shall not be inventoried or otherwise entered by any field crew members. In such cases, the Contractor shall immediately report these conditions to the BLM Archaeologist who will then advise the contractor on how to proceed.

XI. Acceptance

Final acceptance of all items/services to be delivered under this contract shall be the responsibility of the Contracting Officer. The government may withhold final payment pending completion of any necessary rework by the Contractor.

XII. Deliverables (to be submitted to the COR)

A. The Contractor shall submit digital copies of typed site forms with original photographs to the BLM for review prior to submission to the Montana SHPO for issuance of site numbers.

B. Site form maps should have both the location of the cultural resource described and the delineated survey unit plotted and labeled in black. After review and changes, if any, the Contractor will obtain site numbers. The Contractor will be responsible for addressing comments SHPO may have on site forms.

C. One digital copy of the draft Class III cultural resource inventory report. Additional draft reports may be requested as many times as necessary to ensure the report meets what is describe in this SOW.

D. One bound hard cop of the final Class III cultural resource inventory report. The report shall be typed and printed on 8 ½ " x 11" paper and shall be single-spaced. All temporary site numbers shall be replaced with Smithsonian numbers assigned by the

SHPO across all deliverables, including GIS data.

E. One completed Cultural Resource Annotated Bibliography System (CRABS) form.

F. One set of final site forms with Smithsonian site numbers and with original color photos, unbound but stapled.

G. One copy of photographic record.

H. One copy of all field notes.

I. One electronic copy (thumb drive) of the report, site forms, photos, photo log, GIS data and associated metadata. GIS data should contain, at a minimum, shapefiles of unit boundaries, area surveyed, and site boundaries. If the Contractor chooses to submit shapefiles for site contents like artifacts or features, one shapefile depicting only all site boundaries is required. The Contractor will use NAD 1983 Zone 12 or

13 as the projected coordinate system. KMZ files are not acceptable.

XIII. Period of Performance

A. Site file and literature search shall begin no later than 15 calendar days after the order has been issued and completed within 10 calendar days. A summary table of this information shall be turned in with the fieldwork authorization request.

B. Contractor shall prepare a table summarizing the results of the inventory and site shapefiles to the COR within 15 days of completing fieldwork. The table shall contain legal locations and results of survey, including the type/number of cultural resources recorded, and initial recommendations of NRHP status.

C. Draft site forms shall be submitted within 1 months of fieldwork completion. One digital copy of the draft Class III Cultural Resources Inventory report shall be submitted within 6 months of contract award.

D. The COR will review all deliverables and comment on their adequacy within 20 calendar days of submission. All deliverables (including associated documentation and a completed CRABS form) are due within 1 months of submission of draft report.

XIV. Payment Schedule

A. Payment shall be tied to completion and acceptance of tasks identified in Section IX.

Period of Performance per the following: A (10%), B (40%), C (30%), and D (20%).

B. Invoices shall not be submitted unless the contractor has received approval from the COR.

Payment requests are submitted electronically per the contract language and not directly to the COR. Rejected invoices are the responsibility of the contractor.